Practical shipping reference
Use these guides for preliminary planning. Equipment specifications, cargo limits and contractual responsibilities must be confirmed for each shipment.
Ocean equipment
Typical specifications for general-purpose equipment. Actual dimensions and payload can vary by carrier, manufacturer, floor type and individual unit.
Commercial terms
The 11 ICC rules allocate delivery, risk, transportation costs, insurance obligations and export/import formalities between seller and buyer. They do not determine title, payment terms or remedies for breach.
| Rule | Seller delivers / risk transfers | Main carriage | Insurance | Import clearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXWEx Works | Goods placed at buyer’s disposal at the named place, not loaded. | Buyer | No seller obligation | Buyer |
| FCAFree Carrier | To the carrier or party nominated by buyer at the named place; seller clears export. | Buyer | No seller obligation | Buyer |
| CPTCarriage Paid To | When goods are handed to the first carrier, although seller pays carriage to destination. | Seller pays | No seller obligation | Buyer |
| CIPCarriage and Insurance Paid To | When goods are handed to the first carrier; seller pays carriage and insurance to destination. | Seller pays | Seller; higher default cover | Buyer |
| DAPDelivered at Place | At named destination, ready for unloading. | Seller | No seller obligation | Buyer |
| DPUDelivered at Place Unloaded | At named destination after seller unloads the goods. | Seller | No seller obligation | Buyer |
| DDPDelivered Duty Paid | At named destination, import-cleared and ready for unloading. | Seller | No seller obligation | Seller |
| Rule | Seller delivers / risk transfers | Main carriage | Insurance | Import clearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FASFree Alongside Ship | Alongside the vessel at the named port of shipment. | Buyer | No seller obligation | Buyer |
| FOBFree On Board | When goods are on board the vessel at the port of shipment. | Buyer | No seller obligation | Buyer |
| CFRCost and Freight | When goods are on board at origin, although seller pays freight to destination port. | Seller pays | No seller obligation | Buyer |
| CIFCost, Insurance and Freight | When goods are on board at origin; seller pays freight and minimum default cover. | Seller pays | Seller; minimum default cover | Buyer |
Under CPT, CIP, CFR and CIF, the seller pays transportation to the named destination, but risk transfers earlier at origin.
Write the rule, exact port/place and version in the contract—for example: “FCA [named place], Incoterms® 2020.”
Before agreeing to EXW or DDP, confirm which party can legally and practically complete export or import formalities.
Important: This page is a general operational reference, not legal, tax, customs or contractual advice. The sales contract and the official ICC Incoterms® 2020 publication control. Incoterms® is a registered trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce.
Sources: International Chamber of Commerce and Hapag-Lloyd Container Specification.
We can review cargo dimensions, routing and commercial requirements before booking.